The Samsung Galaxy S4 will probably be a hit no matter what specs it has on board. The company is experiencing tremendous momentum, and it's got killer marketing. Consequently, the S4 will likely become synonymous with high-end, non-Apple phones for the masses.

But you're not the masses. You're a tech aficionado. So, let's talk about what you want to see in the Samsung Galaxy S4. I've laid out a bunch of potential specs, with pros and cons. Oh, and remember, everything has a cost. (Otherwise, you'd just pick the all of the high-end specs, right?)

Some choices aren't as obvious as you'd expect. Want to go with an Nvidia, Qualcomm, or Samsung processor? Our former Editor-in-Chief, Michael J. Miller, has a great rundown of the pros and cons of three very different approaches. How about body material? Many people mock Samsung for its use of flimsy plastics, but that makes for a lighter phone with a removable back cover. Would you be willing to trade that out for a non-removable battery, like we've been seeing from Nokia, Motorola, and HTC?

Screen technology is another sticky point, as DisplayMate's smartphone technology shootouts have shown. Samsung's OLEDs have excellent blacks, but they aren't as bright as the most recent IPS LCDs.

When it comes to the camera, I've been won over by those folks that are shifting from a "more-is-more" megapixel strategy to designing phones with larger pixels on higher-quality sensors, whether it's via "ultrapixels" as shown on the HTC One or pixel binning like that of the Nokia 808 PureView. But other manufacturers, like Sony, keep cruising on to even higher megapixels. Tough choice.

I've identified seven key specs that will definitely be part of the Galaxy S4: processor, memory, screen technology, camera, body material, battery, and Android version. Take a look at what I, personally, want to see in the Galaxy S4. Then, using our quiz, build your own Samsung Galaxy S4 and see how it compared to others' preferences.

Check back with PCMag at 7 p.m. ET to see what's in the real Samsung Galaxy S4.

About the Author

PCMag.com's lead mobile analyst, Sascha Segan, has reviewed hundreds of smartphones, tablets and other gadgets in more than 13 years with PCMag. He's the head of our Fastest Mobile Networks project, hosts our One Cool Thing daily Web show, and writes opinions on tech and society.
Segan is also a multiple award-winning travel writer. Other than ... See Full Bio

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